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Matthew 7: 1-5 (The Message)....Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults...unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly smeer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, "Let me wash your face for you, when your own face is distorted by contempt?" It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
God often gives me sharings that are not easy, but I have to be obedient. He has been speaking to my heart about praying for all Christians, including myself, to have a healthy balance in their walk. Many of us have become so religious, legalistic and holier than thou that we feel we have the right to criticize, correct, and condemn someone when they say an off color joke, or slip of the tongue and swear, or something else that might be offensive to us. We want to turn everything into a church thing or religious thing. Most times God will not have us say a thing and just pray for that person. Our prayers, many times, will be more effective than our words. If we don't do that then we are stepping into God's place and trying to play their Holy Spirit. God wants us to be concerned with our own walk and get ourselves right in His eyes before we try to fix or change anyone else.
I have seen and heard so many Christians jump on the bandwagon when it comes to criticizing and judging someone and then get into gossip about that person. Some will even say words to that person's face when they hear something they don't like and end up putting a stumbling block or hurthing that person's spirit. The will say things like: Are you sure you're a born again Christian? I can't believe that came out of your mouth! And the list goes on. Would Jesus do that? No, He wouldn't! I've seen this happen to someone I love and the people who did it didn't realize the damage they did to this person since he was just a newly born again Christian. Or as we would call it, a baby Christian. None of us are perfect, none of us have arrived, we are still in process and so is everyone we come in contact with. We need to do as Jesus would do and accept them and love them right where they are at. Love brings a lot more healing that criticism does.
We have become so religious that we have no respect for those in authority. Instead of slamming, criticizing or tearing down people like our president, we should be praying like never before for him, for our government and just as much for one another. I get emails every day criticizing our president and other things. I delete them! I get such a hard checking in my spirit. God has been dealing with me in that area to pray and not jump on the bandwagon like the rest of the world is doing. God has asked us this year that we humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways that He might heal our nations. He was talking to His children when He said this, not those out in the world. We are to think of ourselves as lesser than others, not greater. When we do think we are so holy that we have a right to sit in judgment than we had better beware of pride taking hold. Pride comes before a fall. God lifts up the humble, let us not forget that.
God has also put it on my heart that many Christians today have lost their joy. It's wonderful to walk with God but sometimes we take it to extremes. We do everything in excess and most times it is not led by the Spirit of God. It's ok to have fun in this world. It's ok to live and be real. When we go to weddings, parties or anything of the such it's ok not to feel we have to turn it into a religious occasion or church thing. We don't have to be in preaching mode all the time. People are watching our walk not what comes out of our mouth. In other words we shouldn't be drinking to excess at these functions. We shouldn't be entering into gossip. If someone is saying a joke that is off color, we need to keep our mouths shut and pray. It's ok to laugh, ok to dance, it's ok to be real. The world is looking for real people who go through sufferings victoriously without putting on religious holier-than-thou masks. They are looking for those people who have that joy and peace in the middle of the greatest trials and tribulations. Believe me, people will be convicted just by our presence if we are putting on Christ. We don't have to throw Scriptures at people. we don't have to push them into salvation. This is a pushy spirit and it turns them off and pushes them away. We need to be very sensitive to the Spirit no matter where we are or what we are doing and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all things, otherwise, it will not produce fruit because God is not backing us up. Most times it's our own zeal, our own soul power and our own flesh. By the way if you really research the Word you will find that Jesus danced, in fact He came up off the floor. He also drank wine. The key is not to drink in excess. A little wine is good for the belly.
A critical, condemning, judgmental and gossippy spirit is demonic. We need to search our hearts and to ask the Lord to help us not act as the devil would. We need to shine out the love of God. Believe me when people are ready they will come to us. I've had it happen in my life simply because I walked the walk of love. Yes, I've shared my testimonies when asked, but did it in a real way, not a religious way. That's how I came to the Lord through the love someone gave me. I saw a love in them I just didn't want to go without. I wanted what they had! We have to ask ourselves why people out there in the world want nothing to do with us. It's because we have become so religious that we are no earthly good to God. When people in the world need a helping hand they don't need to be hit over the head with God's word. They need the love and grace of God just as we do. The world needs to see, feel, hear and experience God through each one of us. When we hold them, ask the Lord for them to feel His love. When we speak to them, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words. When we are with them, ask the Lord to help them see Jesus in you, to see His love, His patience, kindness, tenderness etc.... In other words, don't be quick, take a pause for the cause. Allow from this day forth to let the Spirit lead you in all things. You will be amazed as to how He will use you. When it comes from the Spirit instead of our flesh, it's very powerful and it will produce much fruit. God worked in each one of our hearts to prepare us to receive Him as Lord and Savior. He will do the same for others. Let's stop playing God and be a hospital for the hurting and a light to the lost. Be real, be honest, be open, but most of all be loving. And remember, God is not pushy and we shouldn't be either. God doesn't give up on us and we should not give up on one another, no matter what. God bless you. I love you, but Jesus loves you so much more than I ever could.
